This year, the Beach World Championships will be held in Batumi, Georgia, July 16-17, 2011. This is much earlier in the year than when it was held in the past.

In the past, the U.S. team for this event was set based upon the results from the U.S. Beach National Championships and World Team Trials in Rochester, N.Y. This is not possible, because the U.S. Beach Nationals had been set well in advance, and is being held the week before on July 9-10. Instead of a World Team Trials, there will be an International Cup on the second day in Rochester.

The U.S. team will be determined by an application system, which is noted below. Those seeking a spot on the U.S. team must contact Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling immediately at gabbott@usawrestling.org or via cell phone at 719-659-9637. 

This is a self-funded trip, meaning the athletes must pay for their flights, their accommodations in Georgia, their FILA license and all other costs themselves. Those applying to compete for the USA must make a commitment that they will attend if they are selected for the team.

The weigh-in for the Senior division at the Beach World Championships is Saturday, July 16. The competition for the Senior division is on Sunday, July 17. FILA will provide transportation to and from the Batumi airport. Those who are getting to the event by flying to another airport will need to set up their own arrangements to get to Batumi

Participants must stay in the event hotels, which are the Era Plaza Hotel and the Chao Hotel. The fee for room and board at the event is 130 Swiss Francs per day, which is approximately $155 U.S. each day. A FILA license costs $125 U.S.

Current airfares from New York to Batumi are running over $3,000 roundtrip. Flights from New York to Tbilisi (the capital of Georgia) are about $1,800 roundtrip. Batumi is 173 miles away from Tbilisi.

The United States can enter only a maximum of three athletes in each weight division. Please note that FILA has changed the weight classes this year, with four weights for men and three weights for women.

Men
70 kg/154 lbs.
80 kg/176 lbs.
90 kg/198 lbs.
Over 90 kg/Over 198 lbs.

Women
60 kg/132 lbs.
70 kg/154 lbs.
80 kg/176 lbs.

FILA will also wrestle an Absolute Division, with the champions from each of the divisions entered.

To be considered, all applicants must indicate that they would attend if accepted, and identify which weight division they would enter. In addition, the applicants must give information on their wrestling achievements based upon the criteria listed below.

Applications will be evaluated upon the following factors: 
• Competition results from past Beach World Championships 
• Competition results from past U.S. Beach World Team Trials 
• Competition results from past U.S. Beach National Championships 
• Competition results in other styles of wrestling. 
• Decision to enter 2011 U.S. Beach Nationals and International Cup in Rochester as a tune-up for the World Championships

Please e-mail this information immediately to Gary Abbott at gabbott@usawrestling.org

USA Wrestling will notify applicants that they are on the roster on Tuesday, June 21.